Timmy Dooley (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the opportunity to contribute to the debate and I thank Senator Gavan who has a good understanding of the issues that arise at Shannon Airport. He and I share a lot in common on this particular issue. The facts of the matter are that the separation of Shannon Airport has not worked. There have been ups and downs and it has had some good periods and some bad periods but the reality is if we look at the increase in passenger numbers into Ireland over the period of time since 2013, Shannon Airport has fallen well behind the potential growth that existed at the other airports in Dublin and Cork. This is in percentage terms. It is important that we recognise this. It has had a couple of good years but 2019 was a really bad year. It dropped by 9% and it was the only airport to show a reduction in passenger numbers.

There are difficulties in terms of what Senator Gavan set out in the motion. I agree with the vast sentiments of the motion. This is not meant to be at all patronising but it is really well meaning. The Minister of State already took up this point. We certainly do not want to make a bad situation worse. Shannon Airport did not fare terribly well under the DAA from the time it was created. What needs to happen, and the motion does not reflect it but Senator Gavan reflected it in his contribution, is that we need a single aviation authority that manages the three State airports. It should not be called the DAA.